Apple's future smart home ambitions leverage robotics, and go far beyond simple HomeKit lights

An artist's rendition of a HomePod with a display

Apple is said to be considering future products that make it easier to consolidate information from other smart home devices, and a room assistant that could point a screen at you constantly, as you move around the space.

Apple continues to have grand ambitions for more products in the smart-home category, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. One fairly obvious future idea would be a revamped Apple TV set-top box with a built-in camera for video conferencing.

Another is said to be a lightweight "smart display" that would gather data from home devices, and could more easily be carried by users with them and docked with charging hubs around the house. The device is said to be akin to a low-end iPad.

Apple has allegedly started small-scale testing on the project. Like any rumor, though, it may or may not ever ship.

Another idea that has been floated in rumors for some time, similar to what's being proposed in Sunday's report, is a HomePod with a connected screen. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was an advocate of the idea, but has recently walked back predictions that such a device would appear this year.

The company is also likely to develop new product ideas from technology repurposed from the abandoned Apple Car project. CarPlay 2, for example, has integration with a vehicle's controls, which could transfer to increased smart-home control through the iPhone and iPad.

And, the artificial intelligence and machine learning developed for the car are an easy transfer to mobile robots.

Recent rumors have suggested that Apple is also considering an entry into robotics. The report mentions a table-top product that might use a robotic arm to move a display around to follow the user, perhaps similar to the iMac G4 arm — just automated. This could allow more freedom to move beyond what the Center Stage camera feature currently allows.

The arm and display could also be used like the Personas of Apple Vision Pro users, with the display itself moving to simulate nodding or shaking one's head. Both products are said to be under consideration and early feasibility testing, but no final decisions have been made.

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7 Comments

eightzero 3068 comments · 14 Years

About 3 weeks ago

I don't need a robot or smart technology in my home. I need wifi. Reliable, fast, affordable, secure, easily configurable wifi everywhere. AAPL used to make that. How hard is this? Put it in an Apple TV box, connect it to an antenna and a TV, offer mesh remotes. Pay for it with a subscription to "Apple VPN+" that is part of Apple One. Done.

Not gonna happen. Because robots.

byronl 363 comments · 4 Years

About 3 weeks ago

Okaay now we're talking! I really hope this actually pans out in contrast with Titan...

chasm 3310 comments · 10 Years

About 3 weeks ago

eightzero said:

I don't need a robot or smart technology in my home. I need wifi. Reliable, fast, affordable, secure, easily configurable wifi everywhere. AAPL used to make that. How hard is this? Put it in an Apple TV box, connect it to an antenna and a TV, offer mesh remotes. Pay for it with a subscription to "Apple VPN+" that is part of Apple One. Done.

Not gonna happen. Because robots.

I of course love this idea because I've been advocating for it since the last Apple routers were discontinued, and I continue to believe Apple could revive the "Secure HomeKit" idea by making routers once again for added security that (now) nobody else will or can offer, along with other "synergistic" features for its devoted fanbase and even non-Apple customers by playing up the security and privacy that would be "baked in" to any such Apple product.

However, lately the industry has started to push for "5G in the home" cellular routers, and I think if that catches on, Apple would be foolhardy not to jump back into the game when that becomes a standard.

eightzero 3068 comments · 14 Years

About 3 weeks ago

chasm said:

eightzero said:

I don't need a robot or smart technology in my home. I need wifi. Reliable, fast, affordable, secure, easily configurable wifi everywhere. AAPL used to make that. How hard is this? Put it in an Apple TV box, connect it to an antenna and a TV, offer mesh remotes. Pay for it with a subscription to "Apple VPN+" that is part of Apple One. Done.

Not gonna happen. Because robots.

I of course love this idea because I've been advocating for it since the last Apple routers were discontinued, and I continue to believe Apple could revive the "Secure HomeKit" idea by making routers once again for added security that (now) nobody else will or can offer, along with other "synergistic" features for its devoted fanbase and even non-Apple customers by playing up the security and privacy that would be "baked in" to any such Apple product.
However, lately the industry has started to push for "5G in the home" cellular routers, and I think if that catches on, Apple would be foolhardy not to jump back into the game when that becomes a standard.

especially if they (AAPL) make their own 5G modem chips, eh?

wonder how long before an HDTV appears on the market...with a 5G chip already in it. AAPL unlikely to make such a thing...notwithstanding Gene Muenster's long time predictions. But an Apple TV box? Drool.

StrangeDays 12751 comments · 8 Years

About 3 weeks ago

eightzero said:

I don't need a robot or smart technology in my home. I need wifi. Reliable, fast, affordable, secure, easily configurable wifi everywhere. AAPL used to make that. How hard is this? Put it in an Apple TV box, connect it to an antenna and a TV, offer mesh remotes. Pay for it with a subscription to "Apple VPN+" that is part of Apple One. Done.

Not gonna happen. Because robots.

You do realize you’re responding to a rumor, right?

As for wifi, it long ago became a commodity and I doubt it represents a mass market for the company.